Customer Reviews

I Don't Mean to Be Rude, But...: Backstage Gossip from American Idol & the Secrets that Can Make You a Star

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I never watched American Idol so I came to this book with no preconcieved notions. Simon Cowell has written an extremely amusing book. It starts out logical with Simon's childhood. He was by his own admission a really ghastly little kid and grew up into the kind of teenager that makes teachers retire. His saving grace was his love of music. Luckily he ended up with a music career and became a producer. From that success he was able to create Pop Idol and it's American spin-off, American Idol.

Simon is very, very frank in his opinions and I think he is mostly right. Britney Spears has made a miscalculation with her image, Madonna really hasn't produced a monster hit in America in years and Michael Jackson's career has suffered a totally self inflicted wound.

The behind the scenes gossip is the meat of the book and the tidbits are fascinating. One contestant alienated the show's crew members because of a foul attitude, another contestant blew it due to weird behavior. Another, probably lost because of one off night in a performance.

The best part of the book is Simon's advice to aspiring singers. Talent isn't enough to get you over. As he points out, there are a lot of talented folks singing in hotel lounges, and at amusement parks. Getting to the big time takes smarts, guts and strategy. I wouldn't want to sing in front of Simon and I don't think I'd invite him to dinner but the man has a way with words and I enjoyed the book.

Despite how you feel about Mr. Simon Cowell he is honest and funny. He may take potshots at your favorite IDOL, or even Madonna, Britney and Michael Jackson (they all deserve it)! But here is a man who knows music and the industry! And he is an egotistical hack that has written one of the most readable books of the year. It should be REQUIRED reading for music fans, aspiring singers, and IDOL junkies! Not only does he dish music and the show that made him famous, but he offers advice on how to nail an audition and how to make it in the business!

Get past the life story bit, and the book whirls into a comedic journey of AMERICAN IDOL stories and pop culture criticism. Simon is an intergral part of the show - he's the man you love to hate, but honestly folks he knows his subject! You watched from a distance, but he was 10 feet away the entire time.

Seems most people are ready to dismiss this book on the grounds of the author's television persona. But I find him witty and engaging as an author. You can't go wrong! Unless of course you plan on audtioning for the next IDOL and dress like a giant banana and sing a poor karoke imitation of another singer. Then you can go VERY wrong!

This book is part autobiography and part an inside look into the music industry, and in particular American Idol.
You can divide the book into four major parts: (a) Simon's early life - very entertaining, (b) Simon's early work in the Music industry -probably, the weakest (and driest) part of the book (c) The two American Idol season's - lots of gossip, and fun, even for someone like me who only partially watched the show, and (d) How to become and survive as a pop artist - a very honest, I think, view of the brutal entertainment industry, and probably the best part of the book, especially for people who dream and aspire to become the new Madona or Justin.

As you would expect, Simon is not shy about expressing his opinion, but he also never fails to aknowledge the people that helped him in his life. In other words he is not always negative, something I found very positive about him.

Overall the book is fun to read. The only weak point in the book is his continuous bragging about the million records he has sold. One senses that Simon still tries to prove to the music industry and to the rest of us how smart he is.

A key lesson from Simon is that pop stars don't appear out of thin air. Outside of talent and key determination, they also need a platform - a music band, a TV series, even American Idol. TV in particular seems to be Simon's favorite medium to launch a star.

In summary, Simon delivers both the gossip about the American Idol but also his valuable lessons to aspiring artists.

Comedy writing. Simon's less than angelic episodes are good for a delightful chuckle. After reading this book cover-to-cover in one sitting because it's impossible to put down once you get started, I have a totally new opinion of Simon: he is a very funny guy. I was entertained & intend to recommend this book to anyone looking for a good laugh.

As a new fan of American Idol and as a fan of the irascible and erudite Simon, I just loved this book. It gives an invaluable insight into, not just the contemporary pop music industry, but also what it takes and makes to become a famous and talented pop star. One of the wonderful attributes about Simon is that in hard times has constantly kept his focus and drive, and he has never "sold out" to the industry or compromised his standards. He has spent years honing his skills as an A & R Consultant, and it shows; his skills at picking talent and being able to spot the "X factor" are formidable. I don't think Simon is actually rude; he just has an acerbic wit, and a wicked sense of humor, which some overly sensitive people may interpret as rude. He really is just brutally honest and candid, and I don't think there's anything wrong with him telling the truth about what he doesn't like. As he often says on American Idol - there are a lot of self-deluded people out there.

The first half of the book is very interesting, as he recounts his childhood in England, his frustrations at having to follow "a normal" career path, his days in the mailroom at EMI records and his efforts to come influential in the recording industry. He talks about the way he first insulted his glamorous mother, criticized of his first grade teacher, and was rather obnoxious to his first employers. The Second half of I Don't Mean to be Rude... is really an expose on the development of American Idol, from its conception and pitch to the networks in the United States, to the final episodes of season two where Ruben and Clay go head to head.

Throughout the book Simon drops lots of hints about the styles of music he likes and hates, and the singers that he thinks have made a success of their lives, including Madonna, Justin Timberlake, and Kylie Minogue etc. This book is nothing but fluff, and I'm glad it isn't too long. But even though it is fluff, I still enjoyed it. And I would certainly recommend this book if you want to be reminded of some of the greats of British pop music and also for a quite attention-grabbing insider's account of the competitive contemporary music industry.

Michael

There is a moment, early on, when you realize that this isn't "A Brief History of Time." Do not fear that moment. Embrace it. Revel in it. Because once you accept that, you'll be well on your way to the most entertaining read of the year.

I don't believe you need to have seen American Idol to enjoy this book. The book, and the show, provide insight into the superficial aspects of the entertainment industry, and that segment of America (and the U.K.) that chases after it. The characters in the industry, and those from the show, jump off the page and provide a compelling portrait that, hopefully, will make you want to watch but not join in.

There isn't a whole lot of "behind the scenes" about the Idol participants. Simon tells us what he thinks of all the finalists from both shows, and yes, we hear that Trenyce was hated by the makeup people and was rumoured to have had a threesome with two other finalists. But (understandably) there is nothing from the perspective of the idolists themselves -- no look into how things were for them living at the mansion, for example. So if that's what you're looking for, that's a book that has yet to be written.

All in all, though, it's a very funny, very entertaining read with some good advice (mostly "Give it up") for aspiring singers.

If you don't like (or respect) Simon's opinion, don't bother reading it. However, if you have an open mind and want some good backstage AI gossip, this is the book for you.

The first half of the book is about Simon's life in England, from a young boy with lots of celebrity contacts, to his life as a runner at a movie studio.

It gives you a feel of what Simon really thought about all of the contestants, judges, and hosts. He tells which AI2 contestants were hated, loved, respected, and which one, when booted off, was cheered by the make up and wardrobe people because she was so unliked. It's also kinda short, which is good for a book such as this. I enjoyed it.

I've always been a fan of Mr. Cowell for his brutal honesty and offbeat charm. Still, his book surprised me with its depth and clarity. It's easy to see he has a brilliant knack for the music business as well as an enlightened view of life in general. Cowell describes his childhood in England and rise to the top in an entertaining, witty way, while paying heed to Idol fans by telling humorous behind-the-scenes stories. This book is an informative and enjoyable read for anyone - who knew Simon Cowell was such a fascinating writer?

Yes, I admit it; I watch American Idol, so when I saw that Simon Cowell, one of the judges on the show had written a book...well, I decided to read it.

Now, it has absolutely no redeeming value to anyone other than a fan of the show, but as such, it was entertaining enough to me. In the book, Simon spends the first third talking about who he is, and how he got there. The remainder of the book is basically his thoughts about the first two seasons of American Idol. Like I said, nothing of interest if you don't watch the show.

Would I read it again? Nah, but I don't feel like I wasted my time reading it once.

I didn't think that I would enjoy this book. Books written by anyone connected to pop music are, for the most part, dreadful. However, Simon's book, part biogrpahy, part expose, part advice, is one of the most fun and readable books i've encountered. Simon opinions are forceful(no surprise here)and the content is enjoyable to read. Good job, Simon.